(07/27/20) New! Fire Station No.9 from Menards!

@DaveP posted:

Looks almost like the firehouse I run out of in Bedminster, NJ - sans helo on the roof

 

I think Menards is onto something.  This is the newest fire house to my knowledge in my area.  No helicopter pad, but similar construction.  The second floor is for the possibility of firefighters staying on site in the future.

Nice looking building, but, someone should have really given a second thought to that "in & out" motion of the fire trucks. It just looks too goofy!

@Dan986 posted:

Menard's hits another home run!!! I am buying one for my layout and two more as an investment. It looks just my local firehouse where the fire trucks go back and forth a few feet over and over,a helicopter sits on the roof and giant red led bulbs blink on the front of the building. Keep up the fantastic modeling Menard's!!!

Buying an extra two as an investment might not be such a bad idea. Due to the limited edition nature of these collectible buildings, they seem to only increase in value.

For anyone who missed out on the original fire station (No.12) I was able to find some on “the bay”.

$195.85 + $25.85 Shipping
$152.95 + $47.50 Shipping
$149.00 + $15.85 Shipping
$150.00 + $13.85 Shipping (Prototype)
$130.00 + $33.20 Shipping
$119.99 + $22.95 Shipping

Remember guys, our buildings are always in the spirit of fantasy and fun!

Thank you,
Mark the Menards Train Guy

Mark the Menard's Train Guy, i

It would be a great addition if Menard's would make available the various people that appear in all the buildings. I'd like a set of the figures in this fire station building as an example, among others. Thanks.

ed

@Big Jim posted:

Nice looking building, but, someone should have really given a second thought to that "in & out" motion of the fire trucks. It just looks too goofy!

Not sure I have room for something like this, but I would not power it up.  I’d just have the trucks stationary. 

I think Menards did a good job and will sell a bunch. But I need 4 bays for 3 firefighting trucks plus an Ambulance.

Old photo below is getting fuzzy, but if you look closely our Dalmatian, Hank, is supervising operations from the deck of the Pumper. Water is flowing from house tank to Hydrant thru Pumper and via attack line thru the window back to the tank. (hose shown here is all over-scale but I later found a variety of fish tank hose at Pet Smart that fits the scale needed). 16 personnel on the scene.

Nice scene Dewey.

Neal Jeter 

@Menards will the free car/truck promotion be returning soon? I live in New England so I don’t get value from the rebate promotion. Or is it possible to use the rebate online? I have a gift card burning a hole in my wallet and I want new boxcars and buildings! 

Thanks and great job on the last few new releases!

@ToledoEd posted:

Mark the Menard's Train Guy, i

It would be a great addition if Menard's would make available the various people that appear in all the buildings. I'd like a set of the figures in this fire station building as an example, among others. Thanks.

ed

Hi ToledoEd,

Thanks for the idea! I'll see if I can come up with something.

As a question to everyone:

Would anyone else be interested in figures if we offered them for sale? What would you expect to pay for individual figures or a pack of, say 5?

Is there a market for hand painted figures like these?

Any input is welcome. Have a great weekend!

Thank you,
Mark the Menards Train Guy

Mark did notice that in your great insert of the last O Gauge Railroading,

The USCG copter was shown 2x, but no Schneider TOFC.? I will order may

 Fire Station today and plan on slight kitbash by showing one of the engines

invisibly pushing/pulling a fire chief's car.  Would love to see some cars for 

your "Boxes" to ride in.  Keep the great products coming!!   UnclePeteRR

@Menards posted:

Hi ToledoEd,

Thanks for the idea! I'll see if I can come up with something.

As a question to everyone:

Would anyone else be interested in figures if we offered them for sale? What would you expect to pay for individual figures or a pack of, say 5?

Is there a market for hand painted figures like these?

Any input is welcome. Have a great weekend!

Thank you,
Mark the Menards Train Guy

 

I think that is a great idea!  Menards figures are nicely detailed and a wide variety.  People pushing shopping carts, mom's holding kids hands, construction workers in all different poses, Jack the dog and his walkers, Starbuck's server... it would even be nice to buy the coin operated toy horse. Pricing is sensitive for figures, though.  Price 'em as low as you can!  IMHO Woodland Scenics, Arttista, & Scenic Express are the gold standard but can get pretty pricey to fill a layout.  Menards figures would be a nice addition.  Unlike buildings, there is always plenty of real estate for people.  Think Model Power & Bachman pricing to be more competitive.

Assuming figures were of the same quality as those used on the buildings, I would say a cost of about $2 per figure is reasonable.

Figure lines are always good, especially if they are different than anything else available on the market. In addition, I want a 1:43/1:48 John Menard figure in the mix. And, if his estate will allow it, a Ray Szmanda figure would be incredible. 

I have a couple of points.

First, people are in the hobby for differing reasons.  Some are in for ultra realism while others are in for the whimsy of a toy train layout.  This is obviously for the toy train layout.  This is for the train club who sets up a public layout that wants to wow the kids.

Second, it's really hard for any company to get a popular building such as a firehouse right.  This is a building that many of us have a version of on our layouts and everyone has a different opinion on one to model.  Size, city vs suburban or rural, time era, etc.  No company is going to get this right for everyone.

This building provides tremendous value for those who are looking for it.